Announcing the 2026 Companion of the Centre – Carol Stevenson Seller
The Centre for Christian Studies is pleased to announce that the 2026 recipient of the Companion of the Centre award will be Carol Stevenson Seller. Carol will be presented with the award at CCS’s Annual Service of Celebration on April 18 in Winnipeg.
Carol graduated from Covenant College (now the Centre for Christian Studies) in 1965 and was commissioned to diaconal ministry by the United Church’s Saskatchewan Conference, where she initiated youth drop-in centres and did leadership development and training to introduce the “New Curriculum” at a time when churches were bursting at the seams. Her training as a teacher and her diaconal formation blended well; as one nominator noted, “the diaconal action reflection model has become part of Carol’s DNA.” Over the years she has shared her gifts for ministry and her passion for Christian Education with various congregations in Saskatchewan as well as on the Gaspe Coast and the Tatamagouche Centre (then known as ACTC) in Nova Scotia.
In 1989 Carol founded People Focus with colleague and friend Catherine Barnsley. People Focus was a human resources/adult education company that led events in organizational planning, team building, and group facilitation for various groups, businesses, and organizations, including the United Church. Carol’s emphasis was enabling groups and individuals to explore vocational dilemmas and/or find new direction. Carol was a mentor to many, creating a place of safety and trust to discover their own gifts and wisdom.
She has been an active and creative member of the Saskatchewan Christian Feminist Network and Women in Ministry gatherings, as well as the Sacred Web Singers and the Gaia Singers, drawing people together through the music of Carolyn McDade. (One nominator noted, “Often when cooking, gardening, or driving, Carol will break into song; it’s who she is.”)
Carol retired to Prince Edward Island, where she continues to be active in church and community – serving on committees, teaching Sunday School, offering pastoral care, facilitating retreats and small group gatherings, singing in choirs. Her ministry and volunteer work spans nearly eight decades.
One of her nominators said, “Carol is all about community. Her trust in individuals and groups creates an atmosphere that invites others to deepen their spirituality and their connections with one another.” Another nominator noted, “Her feminism is strong and lived out in systemic analysis, work for justice for those who have little power, and in actions of outrageousness. Her humour livens any party.”
We look forward to having Carol as one of our honoured Companions.
